Worship Sun 28 Feb, Lent 2: 'Picking up your cross'

WELCOME/
Hello everyone, and welcome to Lent 2! Last week we entered the 'wilderness' of Lent, journeying with Jesus out into the desert. This week, we continue along the way, moving - in scripture - from the wilderness to the area of Caesarea Philippi. As Jesus and the disciples move through the villages, he asks them 'Who do you say people say I am? and has  a bit of a falling out with Peter...
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE.

CHURCH NOTICES/
I meant to say in the video that on 5 March, it's the International World Day of Prayer. If you'd like to participate, you can download resources at THIS LINK.
And, don't forget, if you keep an eye out over the week, you'll find various Lent challenges posted here on the blog for you to make use of as you wish.

Not much news to report, so, blessings as you go into this new week,
Nikki

Lent Baking Challenge wk1

WEEK 1/ PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
Lent is often described as a spiritual journey - we journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem, and walk with him through the events of Holy Week leading up to the Cross...
But unlike those first followers of Jesus, we know the story doesn't end on that first Good Friday.
St Augustine, the great 5th century African theologian and bishop stated:
'We are the Easter people, and "Alleluia!" is our song.
As we take these early steps into the season of Lent, so we look at our map to the end point, Easter Sunday, where death itself was overturned. Jesus triumphed over the grave, and in so doing pointed the way to eternal life with God.
So we begin this baking journey nourished and strengthened with knowing the joy that is to come at the end of the Lenten journey and of the joy to come forever.
Given we follow the one who overturned death, and who spoke of God's upside-down kingdom, what better way to begin our baking adventure than with pineapple upside-down cake?

Recipe/
You will need:
For the glaze and decoration -
50g butter or marg.
50g light brown sugar
1 x tin of pineapple rings glace cherries -
1 per each pineapple ring used 

Sponge mix -
100g butter or marg
100g caster sugar
100g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tblsp of the pineapple juice/syrup

Start by creating the glaze and the decoration at the bottom of the tin.
Mix together 50g butter or margarine, and 50g light brown sugar, and spread this over the bottom of a cake tin and a little way up the sides.
Open a tin of pineapple rings, and place these in a pattern all over the base, putting glace cherries in each hole.
Here is all our glorious hope for Easter- but we can’t see it yet.
We’re going to hide it under some sponge cake mixture.

Mix together 100g butter or margarine, 100g caster sugar, and 100g self-raising flour, along with 1 tsp baking powder, 1tsp vanilla essence, plus two tablespoons of the juice or syrup from the pineapples. Pour this over the pineapples and glace cherries, until they are completely covered.

Bake for 35mins at 180C/GM4, then take out of the oven.
Carefully [don't burn yourself!] up-end onto a plate.
All that hidden beauty and colour can now be seen, like the life that bursts into the world again at springtime, like the life of Jesus that fills the world with love and goodness.

Often, in Lent, we talk of taking things on, but more often we hear about giving things up...
Having taken on the baking challenge, you might consider giving up some of that baking goodness to a neighbour, or someone you know who might just appreciate a little glimpse of God's love and goodness in an act of kindness...

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Augustine was mentioned above. Here’s an excerpt from St. Augustine’s Confessions, in which he laments his hesitant embrace of faith in God.

Late have I loved you 
Late have I loved you,
Beauty so ancient and so new,
late have I loved you!

Lo, you were within, but I outside,
seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made
I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
They held me back far from you,
those things which would have no being,
were they not in you.

You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;
you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;
you lavished your fragrance, I gasped;
and now I pant for you;
I tasted you,
and now I hunger and thirst;
you touched me,
and I burned for your peace.

When at last I cling to you with my whole being
there will be no more anguish or labor for me,
and my life will be alive indeed,
alive because filled with you.
      ~ Augustine of Hippo, Confessions

A blessing for the way:
May we find the road that leads to life;
may we take the turns that brings right relationships;
may we pause to accompany others on the way;
and may we journey with God through Lent,
and long for the horizon and dawn.
And the grace.
    ~ written by Roddy Hamilton

Enjoy your baking everyone. And, if you're so minded, perhaps take a photo and send it in to us to share. Email/  minister.upperclyde@gmail.com

Lent Great Outdoors & Thru the window challenges wk1

Both 'The Great Outdoors' and 'Thru the Window' Lent activities will appear each week on a Monday afternoon. Early today just so you can check in and see what we're doing!

Great Outdoors Challenge:
Welcome to “Get Outside in Lent.” Each week there will be six ideas for things to do outside and a celebration suggestion - because even in lent Sunday is a celebration day. Pick and choose what you would like to do. Change it and make it your own if you want to, or just do what it says. More than anything , enjoy being outside, take time to connect with nature, with anyone else you might be sharing this with, and with God.

Wk 1/ 'Trees' - 

Scots pine

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Isaiah 55:12 

Active meditation
1/ Hug a tree. Remind yourself that God made this tree and he loves it just as he loves you.
2/ Find an evergreen tree. How would you describe the green of this tree? Be imaginative.
3/ Find a tree with no leaves on it yet. Can you see buds where the leaves will form?
4/ See if you can find a tree with catkins on it.
5/ Take a long view and see if you can tell trees apart by their shape and the sort of pattern that their branches make (you don't need to know what they are, just spot the difference).
6/ Take a few minutes (or longer if you like) to sit under the tree. Lean your back against it and see if the experience speaks to you in any way 

Find a nearby tree if possible. Be quiet for a moment or two (as long as works for you) to reflect on what trees mean to you, and what the world would be like if we didn't have them.

A prayer:
Creator God, thank you for trees.
Thank you for the beauty that they bring to our world,
for the life that they support,
and for the part they play in your creation.
Silence
We are sorry for those times and places around the world
when people have destroyed trees because they are greedy for something else.
Silence
Help us to value trees as part of your creation not just for what they can give us,
but because you made them and you love them.
Silence -
Stand for a moment and let the tree point you towards God. 
In the quietness, what is the still, small voice of God saying to you?
Spend a few moments thinking of people and situations that are on your heart...
place them into God's hands...
Amen.

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Thru the window - connecting with creation through Lent even when you can’t get outside. 

Wk 1/ 'Trees' 

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, 

and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Isaiah 55:12

If you have a tree outside your window where you can see it, stand or sit and simply look.

If there is not one where you can see it, feel free to use the picture above – it is a Scots pine – or find a picture of a tree that you like in a book or on the internet, or close your eyes and imagine a tree that you know.

Meditation
Trees are amazing things. Their roots go down into the ground holding them upright and stable and taking precious nutrients from the soil to feed their growth. Moving up the tree the trunk and the branches become thinner and more delicate making patterns against the sky that are often very distinctive. And they support life. Whether there are leaves on your tree or not, there will be creatures living on or under the bark; perhaps birds nesting in the branches; even squirrels or owls hiding away.

Something to think about
Where are you rooted?
What do you need to feed your growth?
What gives you life? 

Prayer
Creator God, thank you for trees.
Thank you for the beauty that they bring to our world,
for the life that they support,
and for the part they play in your creation.
Silence
We are sorry for those times and places around the world
when people have destroyed trees because they are greedy for something else.
Silence
Help us to value trees as part of your creation not just for what they can give us,
but because you made them and you love them.
Silence -
Stand for a moment and let the tree point you towards God. 
In the quietness, what is the still, small voice of God saying to you?
Spend a few moments thinking of people and situations that are on your heart...
place them into God's hands...
Amen.

Worship Sun 21 Feb - Lent 1: Into the wilderness

 WELCOME/
Hello, and welcome to worship, as we enter into the season of Lent, those weeks that lead us up to Easter - and traditionally a time to be a little more intentional in making space for God in our lives. It's a time for reflection, thinking about all those things that get in the way of walking with God, a time to repent - as in turn around from moving away from God and moving once more to God. Given that, our time of worship this week reflects on walking along God's paths of righteousness as we consider Psalm 25, and then, venture into the wilderness with Jesus, just after his baptism. I hope that this time of worship will help move you forward with God, as you head, with Jesus, to Jerusalem once more...

Just a reminder that if you look above this blog post to the various tabs, you'll find one marked 'Lent 2021' click on that for some Lent challenges to take up. There's a downloadable sheet with daily activities to help you reflect as you journey along the Lenten path, and some weekly options. Also, there's a couple of book recommendations, should you wish to pick up something to read...

Our worship link IS HERE and will take you across to our YouTube channel.

May each one of us individually and as a community take on the challenge of making more time for God in this season of Lent, and, as we do, may we be open to listening and learning from the One who loves us and calls us to walk in his ways.
Blessings on the journey
Nikki

Ash Wednesday service, 2021

A short service of reflection, as we begin our Lent journey this Ash Wednesday, can be found on our YouTube channel - via this LINK

Worship Sun 14 Feb: Love, actually

WELCOME/
Hello everyone and welcome once again to our time of online worship.
Given the date that Sunday falls on, St Valentine's Day, how could we do other than talk about love?
And, make sure to have your popcorn at the ready because faith goes to the movies in out sermon today - as we stand on the cusp of Lent, and think of God's love and the qualities of love as seen in 1 Cor. 13 we'll take a wee journey through the film 'Chocolat'...
The WORSHIP LINK IS HERE to take you across to our YouTube channel and below is some information about the upcoming season of Lent and some suggestions for the journey.

NOTICES/
Lent activity suggestions -
Lent is a season in the church year that gives us a concentrated space of time that we can set aside in order to help sharpen up our focus on God. It's often likened to a journey - we journey over the weeks of Lent towards Jerusalem, travelling with Jesus to those events in Holy Week and leading to Easter Sunday.
Traditionally, to mark Lent, the practice of giving up something, or taking something on, developed.
And, here at Upper Clyde, over the last few years, we've had both a daily and weekly set of options to help walk the Lenten pathway. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, Lent falls during Spring, so we can think of this time as an opportunity to do a little spiritual Spring cleaning.
Check back on the blogsite DURING THE WEEK - look along the tabs above the blog post and you'll find a tab specially dedicated to gathering our various Lent options, reflections, and spiritual tools - 'LENT 2021'
There'll be options for bakers, for outdoorsy folk, gardeners, for those unable to go outdoors, and even for lovers of Lego. Along with several book suggestions that you might find useful companions on the way.

Ash Wednesday -
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and falls on the Wednesday of this week - the 17th of Feb.
There will be a short service on our YouTube channel that will be available from 5pm on the day. It's always good to mark the start of a journey in some way, and so I trust our service will help to do just that. I'll put a link here or, if you've bookmarked/ subscribed to our YouTube channel, just head across anytime after 5pm.

Parish newsletter - Easter edition
Over the upcoming weeks, Dee, our magazine editor, will be looking for items of interest to include in what will be a smaller newsletter, rather than magazine [due to COVID-19 and not wanting to put folk at risk, and of breaking lockdown regulations]. If you have a favourite Easter themed poem, or a story to share, a favourite Easter hymn, or even a seasonal joke, do get in touch with Dee, she'd love to hear from you - you can do this via our 'contact us' feature on the right hand column, and these will be passed along to her. 

Have a good week, perhaps even a few pancakes on Tues, and blessings to you all as we move into Lent mid-week.
Take care
Nikki

Worship, Sun 7 Feb: 'You raise me up'

WELCOME...
Hello, and welcome to our online service of worship. We'll be reflecting on the God who raises us up as we consider the words of Psalm 147 and take a wee peek behind the curtains at Peter and Andrew's home life as we listen to Mark 1:29-39.
As far as church notices go, as we look ahead, the season of Lent is very nearly upon us - scary how the time keeps on moving. In our next time of worship, I'm hoping to share a few thoughts on some books that might be a helpful accompaniment as we journey through the weeks of Lent and to Easter. Along with that, there'll be options available for taking on a daily and weekly lent challenge - you can choose to do both, one, or bits and pieces whenever you're able... they'll be there as a help, not a measure of success or failure! Keep your ears tuned for a Lent Lego challenge, this is being prepared by our Community Outreach Worker, Angela - and she's got me intrigued, so, let's see how that will work!

I hope this finds you all keeping on keeping on, and managing with lockdown. If I can be of any help, if you'd like a wee chat, or, if you know of anyone who might, do let me know.
In the meantime, let's move across to our YouTube channel for our time of worship -
using THIS LINK to get there.

Stay safe, keep warm, and may you feel God's presence close by your side.

Nikki

News, updates, information...

 
CHURCH NOTICES/

The minister will be on Annual Leave during 18 Jan -3 Feb

Contacts:
Urgent pastoral cover [food bank referrals, funerals] during this time will be provided by the Rev. George Shand of the Tinto Parishes.

His number is 

For general parish enquiries please contact our Session Clerk Ms Heather Watt. Her number is 

Worship while the minister is on leave:
Here are some options for worship online that you might like to explore...
St Mary's Church, Haddington - LINK to YouTube site - shorter service c.10mins;
10.30 am Dunfermline Abbey - LINK to their YouTube site;
11am Kirkton Parish Church, Carluke - LINK to their website;
All the above services are archived so if you miss the livestream, you can watch the service later on.

Clydesdale Food Bank:
If you would like to support the ongoing work of the food bank, you can do so online HERE 

Online giving: 
Did you know that you can give online to Upper Clyde Parish? Should you wish to do so, please head over to our giving page, HERE

Worship Sun 17 Jan: 'the God who sees us'

WELCOME/
Hello! Welcome once again to our time of worship online - even despite our current lockdown regulations, our God is worthy of praise, and being at home does not stop us from gathering to praise and to worship the One who who knows us and calls us.
Our worship theme this week reflects upon the God who sees us, and who calls us - we'll be hearing from Ps 139 and John 1:43-51. 
Please check below with regards to cover information for the next couple of Sundays, as I'll be taking some annual leave - I have a little bit of academic work that needs to be done.
Meanwhile, you can find the LINK TO WORSHIP HERE
As ever, I hope you find this time of worship of help, and encouragement as you travel in faith in these tricky times.

God's blessings to you,
Nikki

CHURCH NOTICES/
The minister will be using up some Annual Leave during 18 Jan -3 Feb

Contacts:
Urgent pastoral cover [food bank referrals, funerals] during this time will be provided by the Rev. George Shand of the Tinto Parishes.

His number is 01899 309400

For general parish enquiries please contact our Session Clerk Ms Heather Watt. Her number is 01899 850 211

Worship while the minister is on leave:
Here are some options for worship online that you might like to explore...
Livestream - 
10am St Mary's Church, Haddington - LINK to YouTube site;
10.30 am Dunfermline Abbey - LINK to their YouTube site;
11am Kirkton Parish Church, Carluke - LINK to their website;
All the above services are subsequently archived so if you miss the livestream, you can watch the service later on.

Clydesdale Food Bank:
If you would like to support the ongoing work of the food bank, you can do so online HERE 

Online giving: 
Did you know that you can give online to Upper Clyde Parish? Should you wish to do so, please head over to our giving page, HERE

Worship, Sun 10 Jan - Baptism of Jesus

WELCOME/

Hello and welcome to worship.
It is good that even in a time of lockdown, that we are still able to gather online to worship the One who calls us his own, who calls us ‘beloved’.
We move further into this season of Epiphany: the wise men have been and gone and traditionally, the church calendar does a bit of a dramatic jump. Having just celebrated the birth of Jesus, we move to a now grown Jesus on the cusp of beginning his public ministry, and find ourselves by the banks of the River Jordan, hearing once again the story of his baptism. So as we paddle by the waters of the Jordan, just one piece of news to share...
As a parish, as of 2019, we became part of a wider parish grouping with Douglas Valley and the Tinto Parishes. We'd already begun exploring and finding ways of helping and supporting one another - by pulpit swaps and the ministers of Upper Clyde and Tinto Parishes leading communion across in the Douglas and Rigside congregations. Alongside this, we also undertook an audit of our parishes - how many people, schools, community groups, age groups, community services offered, etc - and this helped to shape a proposal to create a new post of a shared Community Outreach Worker. This went forward to Church of Scotland HQ, and we were successful in receiving support to put in place a 3 year post. Having advertised the vacancy, and subsequently interviewed shortlisted applicants, the successful candidate was Angela Brydson - a Deacon and experienced community worker. 

Angela has been working just down the road, in our neighbouring presbytery of Annandale and Eskdale. I think our various communities will benefit immensely from Angela’s energy and creativity, as well as her understanding of just how rural communities work and it’s great that she’s joining our team – even in the midst of the challenge of doing so in lockdown. Angela has very kindly put together a wee video to say hello, so you'll get to meet her in our opening 'welcome' clip across at our YouTube channel.

In the meantime, I hope this finds you well, and that you’re managing to stay upright, given all the ice and snow about the place. Also, I hope that lockdown is not proving too hard. Please do feel free to give me a call if you’d like to chat – I’m always happy to listen.
May this time of worship be a blessing and an encouragement...
You'll find the LINK HERE to take you across to our service.

God bless
Nikki

Update re. opening of church building

 As at 5 Jan, 2021

Re: the Scottish Government statement re. entering a new lockdown -

Friends, as part of the lockdown regulations, places of worship are to remain closed during this time.

Accordingly, until otherwise advised, as a church we will continue to worship online, rather than in person, in the building. I know that those of you who were looking forward to meeting in the building once more will be disappointed, however, let's take comfort from knowing that we are the living stones that make up Christ's church in the world - that doesn't change just because we can't open a building; what it does do is make us think more creatively about how to be the church...

I'm minded of the wee hymn 'I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together'. As Christ's body in the world, let us love God, and love our neighbour, by continuing to keep each other safe from harm by biding awhile at home, praying for one another, and checking in on one another by phone, or zoom, or text...

Blessings to you all during this time,

Nikki

Worship, Sun 3 Jan - Epiphany

 

WELCOME/
A very happy new year to you all, and welcome to this time of worship.
Traditionally, the 6th of January closes the season of Christmas and opens the shorter season of Epiphany in the church calendar. It's known as a season of light, and of things revealed, and begins with wise men following a star. It's also an opportunity to sing a few last Christmas carols as well as look ahead to this coming year. Whether past or present, or in the future, however, God journeys with us, as we follow in faith. May you find this time of worship an encouragement as we travel together as God's people into 2021.

The worship link is HERE.

And, for younger folk, you'll find an ACTIVITY SHEET LINK HERE.

God bless,
Nikki

Worship, Sun 27 Dec - Worship with the Moderator

Church of Scotland Moderator - the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair

Hello everyone.
I hope however you marked it, that your Christmas Day was a good one. Remember, Christmas Day is the traditional 'first day' of Christmas - so don't be packing away the decorations and twinkly lights just yet... you have 'til the 6th of January. Mind, given the year we've had, if the decorations and lights are helping to keep you cheerful, hey, keep them up for as long as you need [tho' perhaps take them down before Easter?!].

This Sunday, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, has put together a service of worship for us all to watch - and to give ministers a wee spell. So, with congregations all around Scotland [and those CofS churches outwith], today we'll be joining together to share in this time of worship. 

In the meantime, I hope this finds you all well, and we'll have one last opportunity for some Christmas music on the following Sunday... where we'll be thinking of Wise Men and stars, and journeying, as we dip our toes into a brand new year.
The worship link for the Moderator's service IS HERE 
Take care and God bless, 
Nikki

Worship, Christmas Eve - Watchnight

 Dear friends, on this Christmas Eve, a wee worship service of readings, music, and poem, to help bring in Christmas. Many thanks to all who helped in various ways, with this service. And to all of you, may the light of Christ stir hope in your hearts, may you know the peace of the Prince of Peace, may the joy of Mary and the rejoicing of the angels be yours, and may the love of God surround you and fill you this Christmas... 
Blessings to you all...
Nikki

Here's the WORSHIP LINK

This coming Sunday, we'll be joining with the Moderator, as he leads us all in worship.

Update on church building reopening

The best laid plans...
given the First Minister's statement on Saturday evening, the Session decided that, as we've waited this long to reopen the building, a little more waiting wouldn't go amiss.
Subject to the lay of the land, as such, we hope to open at the end of January or beginning of February.                   
We'll keep you posted!!

In the meantime, the Watchnight service should be posted online by about 8pm.

Worship, Sun Dec. 20 - Advent, wk 4 'Love'

 WELCOME and CHURCH NOTICES/
Hello and welcome to worship, on this 4^th Sunday of the season of Advent. We’ve been waiting and watching and preparing and soon, very soon, the time of waiting will be over – and we’ll be welcoming and celebrating the birth of Jesus, once more.

Over these last weeks, we’ve followed the traditional Advent themes of hope, peace, and joy, and on this last Sunday of Advent, we add love into the mix, as we think about a young woman – a teenager – from an out of the way backwater, from a family of no particular importance... someone who, in the society she came from, would ordinarily be invisible, unnoticed... and yet, someone seen by God, and chosen to do an extraordinary thing – to carry the long-held hopes of her people within her, and to see that hope born in flesh and blood, in the birth of her son, Jesus... on what was the very first Christmas.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Session news - having met over the course of the year, the Session was minded to invite Janice Reed to become a member of the Session, and having been asked, Janice has agreed, and so I’m delighted to announce that we will be ordaining and admitting her to the eldership. The date for the proposed ordination was to have been 3 January, 2021 - however, in light of the lockdown rules put in place on Saturday evening by the First Minister, this will now be rescheduled to a later time.

Re. the First Minister's statement, Sat evening and opening of church building: 
Given the changed circumstances, an emergency meeting with most of the Session was held on Saturday night.
Although we were to have reopened the church building for worship on Sun 20th Dec., the decision has now been taken to postpone at least until Sun 31st Jan, 2021. Presbytery has been duly informed and has agreed to this change of plan. We will keep you updated.
In the meantime, worship will continue to be provided online, including the Christmas Watchnight service, which will [hopefully] be online by 8pm on Thursday.

Over this coming week, blessings for a joy-filled Christmas.
Take care, stay safe, and God bless,
Nikki
                                          The link to this week's service of worship is HERE

Worship Sun Dec 13: Advent 3 'Joy'

WELCOME/

Hello and welcome to our online service of worship, on this, the third Sunday in Advent.
We follow the traditional Advent themes this year, and having begun with hope, moved to peace,
we turn our thoughts to joy - and, to John the Baptist. An interesting mix, this, given John's reputation for being the fierce, austere prophet in the wilderness who existed on locusts and honey, and wore camel hair garments. Perhaps what we might discover is that joy goes beyond surface cheerfulness -
it is an anchor for our souls in the hard and the dark times. With hope, comes peace, and with peace, joy. 
I hope you enjoy and are encouraged and refreshed by this time of worship. 
You can access the list by clicking on the WORSHIP LINK HERE.
Don't forget to check out our church notices below.

Several notices to flag up:
Church building -
As mentioned last week, the season of waiting has come to an end in one sense at least:
we will be moving back into the church building for worship as of this coming Sunday, the 20^th of December, at our usual time of 10.30.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, and the need for socially-distanced seating...

If you are minded to come, you will need to book a place – 

To book a seat, contact Janet Telfer on 01864 504265.

And a reminder that, if you’re anxious about coming, or are shielding, we’ll continue to provide worship online for you – please do what you need to do in these tricky times – we understand completely.

Newsletter
Just off the pressed, is a wee Christmas newsletter –  not our usual all-singing, all-dancing magazine, given ... well, there's not been a lot on due to lockdown!!
A small team of people are currently stuffing and addressing envelopes to send out in the post to members and friends.
In the newsletter, you’ll find an insert which gives you the guidelines for attending worship –
your safety is our priority, and we are ensuring that we are COVID-compliant.

Free Christmas lunch
Liz Steele – the local community worker in our area, has managed to source funding for those of you who live within the Duneaton villages in the parish – so, Abington, Roberton, Lamington, and Wiston – for a free Christmas Day lunch for anyone who’ll be on their own on the 25^th of December. A hot, two course lunch from the Elphinstone Hotel will be delivered to your door by a volunteer. This is open to any age group and a way of bringing a little extra Christmas cheer, (not to mention, to save cooking). The deadline for booking is Wednesday the 16^th December.
To find out more and to get in contact with Liz, see details just below....

Update on reopening the church building for worship

 The following is an update on reopening of the church building, having been closed for lockdown

...as at 8 December, 2020

In among the many tasks needing to be done to prepare the building for reopening - in order to make it COVID-19 compliant - was the requirement that an extensive electrical survey be undertaken.
All the other tasks having been carried out, this was the only outstanding task remaining.
Upon the electrician doing the inspection, a number of faults were found [not building-threatening, rather, mostly just upgrading needing done due to older fittings no longer compliant with newer regulations].
After some delays, the work was completed on the 2nd December, and notice sent to presbytery that same day.

Presbytery support committee met on the morning of 3rd December and approved our request to reopen the building.

That same evening the Kirk Session met, and, having discussed logistics and timing, decided that we would open once again for worship in the building from 
Sunday 20th December, at the usual time of 10.30am and subsequent Sundays thereafter
(subject to changes in regulations)

If some of you are anxious about coming to the church building for worship, online worship will
continue to be available for the foreseeable future, which you can access from the safety of home.
There is no need at all to feel 'bad' about choosing not to come to worship if you are anxious -
do what you most need to do - it's absolutely okay. 

Your safety is the most important thing.

Once we do open for gathered public worship, there will be certain things that all of us

must and must not do, and that we need to be aware of. 
Below is a checklist to guide us in best practice with regard to safety and COVID-19 regulations...

Worship, Sun Dec 6; Advent 2 'Peace'

 WELCOME/
Hello and welcome to worship, on this second Sunday in the season of Advent. 
The traditional theme for this week is 'peace' and the service will both reflect this as well
as think about a word from the prophet Isaiah - 'comfort'. The prophet proclaims to God's people
that God has heard their cry in the midst of distress, and will bring them comfort.

And now... for some church news:
At last! We will soon be opening the church building once again for worship. The electrical work
is now completed, the report has gone to presbytery, and we were given the green light on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Kirk Session met - via 'zoom', online, we are now getting rather high tech, don't you know! - and, having taken in a variety of factors, the decision was made to open in time for Christmas.
Our first service back in the building will be held at 10.30am, Sunday, 20th December.

Now, a few things:
Online worship will still be provided - so for those of you who are shielding, or are in a vulnerable group, or who are feeling anxious about coming along in person to worship - please make use of that. We respect your choices, we want you to be and to feel safe, and there is no need at all to feel any sense of guilt about not turning up to worship in the building at this particular point in time with these extraordinary circumstances that we’re all living through right now.

For those of you who are members, or those not, but who we know would like a copy, we’re putting together a Christmas newsletter, and this will be posted out to you, giving you more details on guidelines and about what to expect when you come along to worship in the building and these will also be posted on the blog. So, keep a lookout for that. 
One thing to note, however, is that due to the regulations currently in place, numbers will be limited
due to social distancing requirements. Having thought about the best approach on this, we've decided
that phoning to book a seat is the best way forward. But, more on that later.

So, that’s the big piece of news – in the meantime, hope you’ve all been coping with the snow and have been keeping safe and warm!

I hope this time of worship encourages you in the faith, and helps towards your ongoing Advent and
Christmas preparations, as we watch and wait for the Prince of Peace to be reborn in our hearts once more.
You'll find the YouTube WORSHIP LINK HERE

Worship, Sun 29 Nov: 1st Sunday of Advent 'Hope'

 
WELCOME -
Hello and welcome to this first Sunday in the season of Advent - a watching and waiting and making ready time. It's also the beginning of the church year - so, happy new year!
Traditionally, each of the Sundays in Advent have a particular theme, and on this first Sunday,
we begin with ... hope - something that, after this particularly strange year, we need more than ever.
Before linking across to the service, just a wee update on our church building:
David, the electrician has been busy at work and if not finished, is nearly there. I'll be checking in
on Monday to see where we're at.
Once the work is completed, I'll be getting in touch with presbytery, who have to sign off on the work
before we can open the building.
In the meantime, there'll be a meeting of the Kirk Session on the 3rd, where we have some decisions
that will need to be made, especially given that we are currently in tier 4 in S. Lanarkshire. Do please
pray for us as we have that conversation on Thursday night via the internet. 
As ever, thanks for your patience.

My prayer for you as we enter into this season of Advent is that hope, peace, joy, and love be yours
as we journey together to the stable in Bethlehem, that held the greatest gift of all.
May this time of worship be a blessing and an encouragement...
and you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE.

God bless, 
Nikki

Church news/ information for 9-25 Nov

*For those wishing to access the Remembrance Sunday service, use the link to the right in 'featured post', which will take you to where you need to go...

The minister will be using up some Annual Leave during 9-25 November

Contacts:
Urgent pastoral cover during this time will be provided by the Rev. George Shand of the Tinto Parishes.

His number is 

For general parish enquiries please contact our Session Clerk Ms Heather Watt. Her number is 

Worship while the minister is on leave:
Here are some options for worship online that you might like to explore...
Livestream - 
10am St Mary's Church, Haddington - LINK to YouTube site;
10.30 am Dunfermline Abbey - LINK to their YouTube site;
11am Kirkton Parish Chruch, Carluke - LINK to there website;
All the above services are subsequently archived so if you miss the livestream, you can watch the service later on.

Church building update:
During this period, electrical work will be undertaken in the church building. Once this has been completed, and has been passed by Presbytery, we will be able to once again open the building for COVID-ready worship - subject to ongoing Government regulations.

Clydesdale Food Bank:
If you would like to support the ongoing work of the food bank, you can do so online HERE 

Online giving: 
Did you know that you can give online to Upper Clyde Parish? Should you wish to do so, please head over to our giving page, HERE

Worship, Sun 8 Nov: Remembrance Service

WELCOME/ 
Hello and welcome to this online service of Remembrance.
Due to the current restrictions in place that stop us from gathering at our various memorials within the parish, and also due to some ongoing electrical work in the parish church that prevents us holding a service there, I hope that this online version of our service of Remembrance will be helpful.

Just a couple of notes:
Since the lockdown earlier in the year, Upper Clyde has been posting worship online - 
so, if this is the first time you've visited with us in this way, a special welcome to you.
The service is put together and played as a playlist across on our YouTube channel, and I'll provide the link a little further below.
When we do manage to open the church doors once again for worship, with all due precautions taken, our online worship will be continuing for those who need to shield, or who feel just a little too anxious to attend in person on the day - so, should you wish to continue to join us for worship, why not bookmark or subscribe to our YouTube channel?

A wee word of thanks to all those who helped in some way with this service - particularly around the Act of Remembrance itself: truly, it's been a community effort and is very much appreciated by me!

For those of you with younger ones, if it's helpful before you move on to the worship service, THIS LINK will take you across to a web page where you can download some poppy craft activities related to our theme for today.

In the meantime, you can access our service of worship via this link:
LINK TO SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE

From wherever you're watching, and whenever, let's worship God, and let's remember...

(Rev) Nikki...

Worship, Sun 1 Nov: 'For all the saints'

WELCOME/

Hello and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish. 

The theme for our time of worship is focused around what is traditionally remembered and celebrated as All Saints – remembering that great cloud of witnesses – those followers of Jesus who have gone before us, and passed on the torch of faith, so that we can praise God’s name, and share what he has done, and is doing, in our lives and in the life of the world. 

What is it to be a saint? As we spend time together in worship, let’s see!

CHURCH NOTICES/
Church opening update:

The Kirk Session met together online on Thursday evening to formally approve the electrical work that needs to be undertaken before we can open. Now that this has been approved and minuted, the next step is to see when the electrician can come and do the work. We are hoping that he will be able to do this sometime between the 9th - 25th of November.
If that goes to plan, the next step is to amend the presbytery check list and send that off to the business committee for their approval. Once that has been given, we'll have a much clearer idea of when the doors can once again open.
Slowly, slowly, we inch closer but of course, this is all subject to the regulations, which can change. But, at last there are glimmers of light...

Remembrance Sunday observance:
This coming Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. Given that the regulations do not permit meeting outside at the memorials in our parish, and that the church building is still closed, this service will be online.
However, over the course of this coming week, I will be dropping by the four war memorials to take some photographs - and, in some cases, to film a nominated person from each village as they lay a wreath. The footage will be added into our time of online worship so there’ll be at least some representation of our local memorials and those who in times past served and sacrificed much.

At present, these are all our notices...
I trust that as you move across to our worship service, that the time will be one of encouragement as you walk in faith. 
Blessings on you over the course of this week.
And here's the WORSHIP LINK

Worship, Sun 25 Oct: 'Songs of Praise' - style service

 WELCOME/

Welcome to worship! 
This time of worship presents a wee change of pace...
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been exploring Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, and in our last time of worship, we reached the end of our series.
Given the joyful theme running throughout that letter, and Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians and now, to us, to rejoice in the Lord always, I thought that we could do just that this time in worship with  an online 'Songs of Praise' style service.
So, over this time together in worship, with some great, well-known favourites to sing along to, I trust that you'll be encouraged, that it puts a spring in your step on these colder autumnal days, and helps you to give our God thanks and praise.

CHURCH NOTICES/
Electrical works -
Kirk Session will be meeting online this week to approve the electrical work needing done before we can open the building. We are going to have to draw upon our depleting resources for the invoice: the quote for works is just under £2 700 plus VAT. A bit of a shock!
Nevertheless, hopefully, we can get that work underway when our electrician is free, and subject to presbytery approval and the ever-fluid government regulations, we inch closer to opening those church doors.

Remembrance Sunday worship and observance update/
Given the restrictions, Remembrance Sunday worship and commemorations around the parish mean that we are not able to have an event outdoors to mark this.
So, Plan B -
I will be putting together a service online ... and am hoping to get around to the four villages that have memorials and take some pictures to incorporate into that service.
I’ll also be extra readers, so, those of you who are on the reading list... be prepared.
Another way of marking Remembrance Sunday that’s been talked about is to do something along the lines of what we were doing to celebrate and support our NHS earlier in the year with the rainbows in window...
Perhaps in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday, you could mark it by putting a poppy, or even making a display of poppies, in your windows. And for those of you with smaller members of the household, there are some great poppy making activities on the internet, and I’ll make sure to get some up onto the blog and also have the links placed under some of the youtube clips.

Guild/
If you’ve not already picked up a quiz from the Guild, you can still do so -
quiz sheets are selling for a £1, at the Abington Store, or you can get in touch with Heather Watt or Mary Hamilton to get one. All proceeds go to support the ongoing projects that the Church of Scotland Guild have chosen as their particular charities of choice this year.

Donate online/
Also, don’t forget, if you’d like to continue to support the work of Upper Clyde, you can donate online and the link for that is HERE
And many thanks to those of you have been able to make your donations that way.

Worship link/ To access the service click on this WORSHIP LINK and it will take you where you need to go. 

Enjoy your time of worship and may God bless you.

Worship, Sun 18 Oct: 'Joy' - pt 4 of our series on Philippians

WELCOME -

Hello and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish.
It is always good to remember that, no matter how we gather, it is always good to offer God our worship, for God is truly worthy of our praise.

Over these last few weeks, we’ve been delving into Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and we have arrived at our final chapter – chapter 4. If you wanted a brief summary of this chapter, you could probably do it in two words:

‘Joy’ and ‘Peace’ - and I can almost hear the very long sigh of a certain Rev. I. M. Jolly at the thought of joy...!!

CHURCH NOTICES:

Guild Quiz -

Our friends in the Guild have set a quiz for us all. The quiz sheets are £1, and available at the Abington Store, or get in touch with Heather Watt or Mary Hamilton.

All proceeds go to the ongoing projects that the Church of Scotland Guild supports.
Many thanks to our Guild for organising this and for giving us a little light relief in what for some us are difficult times.

And a little advance notice: there’ll also be a quiz out in December...

Church building -

It's a long, slow process, I'm afraid, however, I’m hoping to have a little bit more information next week on what’s happening. We have received a quote for all the electrical work, so a meeting of the Session needs to happen, along with a wee discussion on finances for the work.
That said, given the current stricter lockdown regulations in force in South Lanarkshire, the Session is not really minded to push opening the doors just yet – even if we could... 

We want you to feel safe and not take unnecessary risks.
Thanks, as ever, for your patience.

WORSHIP AND RESOURCE LINKS -
In the meantime, turning to worship, here are the links -
first, for all-age resources
ALL AGE LINK

and for further bible study and reflection
STUDY LINK

Also, don’t forget, if you’d like to continue to support the work of Upper Clyde, you can now donate online, and many thanks to those of you have been able to make your donations that way
CHURCH DONATIONS LINK
Click 'donate to a congregation' and type in 'Upper Clyde Parish'

And finally, here is our WORSHIP LINK that will take you across to our YouTube channeL for our time of worship

Worship, Sun 11 Oct: 'Dual Citizenship'

WELCOME:

Hello and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish.

In our time of worship, we continue exploring Paul’s Letter to the Philippians – and we’re now onto chapter three.
Last time, as we looked at chapter two, we thought about Paul’s encouragement that, as we lived out our lives walking in the faith, that we try to be imitators of Jesus – Jesus as our role-model...
As we explore chapter three, Paul talks of continuing on in the Christian life, - reaching for the goal, which is to be more like Christ and, that not only are we citizens of earth, but citizens of heaven.
how might being a citizen of heaven affect the way we live our lives in the here and now, I wonder?

CHURCH NOTICES:

First: in case you havn't heard, both Tom Hamilton and Drew Somerville have, sadly, passed away.
Tom’s funeral will be held on Monday afternoon at South Lanarkshire Crematorium
and Drew’s will be a graveside committal at Crawfordjohn Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.
Please do be aware that due to the COVID-19 regulations, only 20 people will be able to attend these funerals - and given the numbers, that will mostly be family members.
However, I’m sure our thoughts are very much with both Margaret and Sheena and their families at this time - and I know many of you have already sent messages of support.

In other parish news:
just to note that a GUILD QUIZ is about to be unleashed upon the parish –
Isobel Taylor has once again done a cracking job putting the quiz together.
Copies will be availble for a £1, at the Abington Store, or get in touch with Heather Watt or Mary Hamilton...
All proceeds go to the ongoing projects that the Church of Scotland Guild supports, and in the meantime, we get to have a little bit of fun as we support that work.– so thanks to our Guild folks for organising this and keeping all our brains nice and active...

For those of you with younger members in your household: don’t forget to make use of the link to access all-age worship resources ...
ALL-AGE WORSHIP MATERIAL LINK

And for those of you who would like to spend more time reflecting on our scripture passage –
follow the link to take you to material to help your study and reflection... 
LINK TO STUDY MATERIALS

Also, don’t forget, if you’d like to continue to support the work of Upper Clyde, you can now donate online and the link for that is also on the blog, below this clip and sitting just below me even now, as I speak. And many thanks to those of you have been able to make your donations that way:
CLICK TO DONATE

And now, as we move into our time of worship, I hope that this set aside time refreshes your soul, and, having just mentioned the Guild, helps remind you of whose you are, and who you serve... which is also the Guild motto.
To get to our YouTube channel for worship, please click on the following link:
WORSHIP LINK

Worship, Sun 4 Oct - wk 2 Philippians: 'Aim low, and you're never disappointed'

WELCOME/
Hello, and welcome to our worship link page. Here you'll find links to take you across to our YouTube channel for a time of worship, and also links to resources for worship, and beyond.

Last time in worship, we began a 4-part series on Paul's letter to the Philippians, looking at Chapter 1.
We saw that Paul was currently under house arrest, a prisoner in - scholars believe - Rome.
Paul wrote to his fellow believers in Philippi, encouraging them to stand firm in the faith under difficult circumstances, and this encouragement was mutual - as he encouraged them, so they encouraged him.
So, our 'take-away' from last time was very much focused on the power of encouragement, and of the importance of both being encouraged and being an encourager.
This time around, in Chapter 2, Paul urges the Philippians to continue on in the faith by suggesting that the best example is Jesus himself - 'be imitators of Christ', he encourages them, and as he describes just who Jesus is, and what he gave up, we find a theme of practical love in action: loving and serving God and each other for the benefit of all... self-giving, not self-seeking.

For those of you with all-age households, for the younger members of the house, you'll find accessible worship material here: 
ALL-AGE RESOURCE LINK
And for those of you who would like to reflect a little more deeply on the bible passage itself, you can find material for further study and reflection here:
BIBLE STUDY LINK

Just to flag up that if you'd like to help support the ongoing work of Upper Clyde Parish, you can donate online by clicking the following link:
UPPER CLYDE DONATE ONLINE
This will take you to the Church of Scotland website. Just click the 'donate to a congregation' option, type in 'upper clyde parish church' and follow the instructions.
And thank you to all who continue to support the work in this and in other ways.

No news yet of the building opening...
In the meantime, you'll find worship available online by clicking on this link:
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP 

I hope you enjoy and are spiritually fed by this time of worship.
God bless
Nikki 

Worship, Sun 27 Sept - Philippians series wk1: 'It's a hard knock life for us'

WELCOME:

Hello and welcome to worship with Upper Clyde Parish. No matter how we gather, it’s good to be able to make time and worship our God, the One who unites, and calls us into community, and who stands with us every moment of our lives.

Previously, in our last time of worship, we spent time hearing about the newly-liberated Israelites, who were wandering in the wilderness.
With supplies seemingly so scarce, how would they survive?
We also heard a story told by Jesus, about the owner of a vineyard who was in need of workers to bring in the harvest, and who, at the end of the day's work, paid all his labourers a full day's wage, regardless of when they may have started working.
In both cases, we reflected on God's justice, and God's generosity.

This week we begin a 4 week series exploring Paul’s Letter to the Philippians...
And in Chapter One, we'll see what Paul, the Philippian Christians, and little orphan Annie might just have in common...
This cartoon might also feel topical, as we reflect... 

If you prefer to skip the following and go straight to worship, you'll find the WORSHIP LINK HERE
Otherwise, a link is also provided at the end of our notices...

CHURCH NEWS:
There's not much to flag up in the way of church news:

Opening of church Building:
Nothing yet to report on the electrical work in the church building - once there’s news, I’ll make sure it’s passed on to you all.

Clydesdale Foodbank:
A quick reminder: if you’d like to support the ongoing work of Clydesdale foodbank, the online address is just here for online giving -
FOODBANK DONATIONS LINK

If you have any food or household items, do get in touch with me and we can organise either a drop off at the manse or church or some such – and my phone number is 01864 502139
And, if you find yourself or someone you know, needing some help, do get in touch with me and I can organise a referral.

All-age worship resources and Bible study material:
Don’t forget that if you have an all-age household, or you’d like to explore the reading a little further, links are below for both all-age worship material, as well as study material for personal reflection -
ALL-AGE WORSHIP RESOURCES and... REFLECTION and BIBLE STUDY

Just for a laugh: 
a certain minister's Aussie Dad enjoys a dire pun [yes, this is where I get it from!] and during the week he sent me several 'humour for times such as these' cartoons.
So, including the following just for a wee smile - or groan!

I hope that this time of worship will help to encourage and strengthen you as you follow in the way of Jesus. To access worship via our YouTube channel please CLICK WORSHIP LINK
Take care, and have a good week...
Nikki